Shoelace fastening device



July 20,1943. w STOREY 2,324,962

SHOELACE FASTENING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1942 Ffgj INVENT OR.

EOQE/VE 57055 Y BY As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the top surface of the clamping jaw is substantially arcuate in outline, and at its forward end is rounded and downwardly inclined as at II to provide a cam surface or mouth in association with the base 6 to receive the shoelace. At the lower end of the cam surface H a hook jaw I2 is formed due to the incline of the same surface, and the rounded cutout III on the lower face of the clamping jaw. Between the rounded surface l3 and the post, a substantially horizontal wall extends to define in association with the base a more or less boxlike 100p for reception of the shoelace.

As shown in Figure 3 also the clamping jaw overhangs the rear of the post and defines in association with the base a U-shaped recess for receiving portions of the shoelace which are wrapped around the post or stub l0.

One way to assemble the device with the ordinary shoe tongue ll of shoe I5 is to form a small slot l6 running transversely and substantially centrally of the tongue I4 adjacent the top eyelets IT by a knife or any suitable tool. Thereafter the clamping jaw is inserted into the slot I6 from the lower side of the tongue and pushed upwardly until the major portion of the post is exposed above the surface of the tongue l4. Thereafter the stitches l8 may be formed to sew the base to the tongue and a base cover strip l9 may be cemented over the base to provide a smooth surface for contact with the foot or instep.

As can be seen in connection with Figure 4, the shoelace generally indicated at L is laced in the usual manner and drawn tightly, and the ends 20 and 2| are crossed at the region of the post In and each of the ends 20 and 2| is pulled under the cam surface II in this crossed relation, and then wrapped around the post It] so as to be in position to the drawn under-the cam surface I I again with part of the wrapped portions lying beneath the rear end of the clamping jaw J. A single turn of each end of the lace around the post is all that is required, and after the fastening is secure, loops 22 and 23 may be formed and the free ends 20 and 2| may be snapped under the cam surface II and the jaw I2 to simulate a bow knot.

The loosening operation for the shoelace is very simple and merely requires for positive operation a slight amount of care if a simulated bow knot is formed. In this operation the loops 22 and 23 are permitted to remain open and the portions of the free ends 20 and 2| which ar under the clamping jaw are merely pulled forwardly of the jaw to release the clamping elfect and then the free ends are wound in a direction reverse to the fastening direction to free them from the snubbing and clamping effects of my device.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that no visual inspection of the shoelace is necessary during the tieing or loosening operations and that the frequent entanglements of the customary bow knots may be completely avoided; further, that a very secure fastening of the shoelace is eifected in a compact and presentable manner.

I preferably form my device of a material having some resilience such as hard rubber, aluminum alloy, or other material having sufficient strength accompanying resilience to serve my purpose. The resilience of the material aids in giving the desired clamping effect apart from the compressibility of the customary shoelace and facilitates operations in fastenings and loosenings.

Various modifications in details may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I wish to avail myself of all variations coming fairly within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A device of th character described comprising a base, a snubbing post extending substantially vertically from said \base, a clamping jaw carried by said snubbing post in spaced relation to said base and overhanging the same on at least two opposed sides with one end of the clamping jaw extending downwardly toward the base with a cam surface at its outer end to define a mouth in connection with said base and being formed with a hook-like portion at its inner end to hold a shoe-lace between the clamping jaw and the base.

EUGENE W. STOREY. 

